Aztec Man Arrested After 15-Hour Standoff With SWAT Teams

Suspect allegedly shot at police drone and robot before being taken into custody

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:19am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single bullet casing on a pitch-black background, the harsh lighting creating dramatic shadows and textures that conceptually represent the tense investigation into a standoff with an armed suspect.A single bullet casing, the remnant of a tense standoff between an armed suspect and law enforcement, reflects the harsh light of an investigative flash.Farmington Today

An Aztec man who is legally prohibited from possessing firearms held two SWAT teams at bay for nearly 15 hours on Monday, shooting at a police drone and a police robot before he was arrested. Jeffrey Schoeller, 61, was arrested outside his home after the lengthy standoff with law enforcement.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with individuals who are legally barred from owning firearms but still manage to obtain and use them, posing a threat to public safety. The use of advanced technology like drones and robots by police also raises questions about the escalation of tactics during standoffs.

The details

Schoeller, who was committed to a state hospital in 2022 after being found incompetent to stand trial, was arrested after the 15-hour standoff. Inside his home, authorities found 20 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The standoff began after Schoeller allegedly fired multiple shots at a neighbor's house, prompting a call to the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. When deputies arrived, Schoeller refused to leave the home, leading to the deployment of SWAT teams from the Farmington Police Department and New Mexico State Police. During the standoff, Schoeller shot down a police drone and fired multiple shots at a camera-equipped robot sent in by state police.

  • At 7:04 a.m. on March 6, the San Juan County Sheriff's Office received a report of shots fired at a neighbor's home.
  • Deputies arrived at the property at 8:07 a.m., but Schoeller refused to leave the home.
  • Midday, the suspect shot down one of the drones deployed by authorities, causing about $300 in damage.
  • At 9 p.m., state police deployed a camera-equipped robot, and Schoeller fired multiple shots at it.
  • At 11:45 p.m., after nearly 15 hours, Schoeller exited the home, refused commands, and was Tased and arrested by state police.

The players

Jeffrey Schoeller

A 61-year-old Aztec man who is legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to being found incompetent to stand trial in 2022.

Eddie Padilla

A neighbor who told authorities that Schoeller had fired multiple shots at his house, prompting him to build a berm to prevent projectiles from striking his property.

Misty Padilla

Eddie Padilla's wife, who was outside with him when the shooting began.

San Juan County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that responded to the initial report of shots fired at a neighbor's home.

Farmington Police Department

The SWAT team that responded to the standoff alongside the New Mexico State Police.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

A pretrial detention hearing for Jeffrey Schoeller has not yet been scheduled.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with individuals who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms but still manage to obtain and use them, posing a threat to public safety. The use of advanced technology like drones and robots by police during standoffs also raises questions about the escalation of tactics and the potential for further conflict.